Monday, December 31, 2007

Happy New Year

Happy New Year everyone. Not much posting going on, just enjoying my time off at the moment.

Sunday, December 30, 2007

Hellfire

The new 'forgotten war' still has some good headlines to show [Iraq]:
Click for the rest of the story

U.S. commanders in Iraq have released dramatic video showing a car containing Al Qaeda operatives being blown up by hellfire missiles attached to Apache attack helicopters.

The car was destroyed in the mission that military officials say demonstrates greater cooperation between locals and coalition forces in Iraq.

One of the terrorists killed in the attack on Sunday is an insurgent who had been imprisoned on Nov. 11 but released shortly afterward. He conducted two attacks on U.S. and coalition forces, including one on Thanksgiving, before being killed, officials said.

One of the "high value" individuals targeted "is believed to be an Al Qaeda cell leader known to facilitate attacks and orchestrate suicide bomb attacks," said Major Alayne Conway, a spokeswoman with the 3rd Infantry Division in Iraq. "He was also involved in attacks against forces in 3rd Brigade's area of operations. One of his most well-known attacks was a vehicle-borne IED against the Australian Embassy."

Fox News
Interesting article, but no link to the footage that was released.


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Saturday, December 29, 2007

Hannah Montana

My daughter absolutely loves Hannah Montana. She would do almost anything to get to see her in concert (too bad for her, her dad [me] doesn't have the funds to get tickets) but I hope she wouldn't do this:
Click for the rest of the story
An essay that won a 6-year-old girl four tickets to a Hannah Montana concert began with the powerful line: "My daddy died this year in Iraq."

While gripping, it wasn't true _ and now the girl may lose her tickets after her mom acknowledged to contest organizers it was all a lie.

The sponsor of the contest was Club Libby Lu, a Chicago-based store that sells clothes, accessories and games intended for young girls.

The saga began Friday with company officials surprising the girl at a Club Libby Lu at a mall in suburban Garland, about 20 miles northeast of Dallas. The girl won a makeover that included a blonde Hannah Montana wig, as well as the grand prize: airfare for four to Albany, N.Y., and four tickets to the sold-out Hannah Montana concert on Jan. 9.
Star Tribune
Not only should the daughter lose her tickets, the mother should be doing some community service at the least for this.


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Friday, December 28, 2007

Blog Posts of the Year

It has been remiss of me to not link you to Jon Swift's compilation of Posts of the Year by various blogs (this one included).

Mr. Swift has links from all sides of the political and non-political spectrum and in alphabetical order lays out the posts that the bloggers themselves have chosen as their best. (Mine was a de-facto choice, since I had to work enough that I didn't have time to actually look to make sure that is the one I wanted heh).
Just as nobody anticipated the levees breaking in New Orleans, according to President Bush, I don't think anybody anticipated the overwhelming response I would get when I asked the members of my very extensive and eclectic blogroll to send me links to their best posts of the year. Not even Condoleeza Rice could have predicted the shock and awe you will feel at the sheer magnitude of the talent out there, of which this is just a small sampling. These posts were not chosen by a panel of experts or TV viewers, but by the bloggers themselves as each blog's best work of 2007. There are posts on politics by liberals, conservatives and moderates, posts on movies, music, television, books, economics, health care, science, sports, religion and history, personal stories and slices of life, poetry, prose, pictures and video. Some are very funny, some are quite serious, some will make you angry and some will make you say "Huh?" Go ahead and click on a link that sounds intriguing or from a blog you haven't read before or check in with an old favorite.


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Thursday, December 27, 2007

Ceaser's Women?

Pakistan's girl leader of the Pakistan Peoples Party was taken out in a Syrian/Russian style double tap hit today that included at least one gunman and a bomb. Weapons fire at close range and the ensuing explosion killed 20 people.

Benazir Bhutto - like girls everwhere was one complicated person. Oxford, Yale - speaking better English than most Americans she also had the canny knack for imbibing projections and magically transforming herself into what ever her sitch or audience or constits required. She could appear like Golda Meir or Joan of Arc and often invoked Indiri Ghandi's model.

Despite all the image, spin and sweet talking Western talk, Benazir may have been little different from politicians through out history - cutting deals for buds and homies and occasionally sort of dipping in to the kitty for personal chicanery.

Surviving multiple botched assassination attempted hits never really sank in to her - riding about in open cars and speaking at massive polit rallies. An everyday thing in her world - after her dad and brother were murdered - maybe it was like the norm. What kind of woman was she?

Slate commisioned her to write a diary for publication a decade ago. In a very prophetic bit that has a new meaning today, she referred to Ceaser's Women by Colleen McCullough.
"Here we are heading towards the third millennium, and the conduct of men and
women still mirrors the style of Caesar's age. Does time go forward or backward
or just stand still? Do we fight the same demons in each era and in each century
only with different methods and in different styles? Are we condemned to a cycle
of patterns that keeps turning and ending up where it started?"


{Cross-posted at GreatSatansGirlFriend where GSGF is the author}

Update

Changed the theme around again. Changed to Disqus comments (all the haloscan comments are saved at haloscan, but, there were no running threads).

Let me know what you think (send an email if there are problems with the comments themselves). Comments will be [update] NOT moderated for all non-registered disqus members (you don't have to register though). [read through the options for disqus and turned on anon commenting so I don't have to moderate]

Bhutto

Bhutto was assassinated today in Pakistan.
Click for the rest of the story



Rest in Peace

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Wednesday, December 26, 2007

Fred!

Misha jumps into the blogburst!

Count us in.
First Name:
Last Name:
Amount:


(note: the donation comes to my referral instead of misha's)

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NFL sells out, W shines

The NFL sells out (due to political pressure)
NEW YORK (CBS/AP) ― The New England Patriots' shot at history Saturday night will be available for every household in the country with a television after months of wrangling.

The game against the New York Giants, in which the Patriots could become the first NFL team to go 16-0 in the regular season, was originally scheduled to be shown only on the NFL Network, which is available in fewer than 40 percent of the nation's homes with TVs.

But the league announced Wednesday that the NFL Network feed will be simulcast on NBC and CBS. It's a major concession by league officials, who repeatedly said they would not show the game anywhere but the NFL Network. The NFL had faced mounting pressure from politicians in recent weeks to make the game available to more viewers.

This will be the first three-network simulcast in NFL history and the first simulcast of any kind of an NFL game since the first Super Bowl in 1967, when CBS and NBC both televised the first meeting of the champions of the newly merged National Football League and American Football League.

"We have taken this extraordinary step because it is in the best interest of our fans," commissioner Roger Goodell said. "What we have seen for the past year is a very strong consumer demand for NFL Network. We appreciate CBS and NBC delivering the NFL Network telecast on Saturday night to the broad audience that deserves to see this potentially historic game. Our commitment to the NFL Network is stronger than ever."
WCBSTV.com

And W has a very good year.
Against all odds, and despite the usual drumbeat of criticism, President Bush had a very good year.

The troop surge in Iraq is succeeding. America remains safe from terrorist attacks. And the Goldilocks economy is outperforming all expectations.

At his year-end news conference, Mr. Bush said with optimism that the economy is fundamentally sound, despite the housing downturn and the subprime credit crunch. The very next day, that optimism was reinforced with news of the best consumer spending in two years. The prophets of recessionary doom, such as former Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan, Republican adviser Martin Feldstein, ex-Democratic Treasury Secretary Lawrence Summers, and bond-maven Bill Gross have been proven wrong once again.
The Washington Times
Very good story, read it all.

On my last midnight tonight and then two weeks off (yay me). I'll still be around to visit everyone, but I may not get any more posts in tonight. I'll make up for it in the weeks ahead with all the off-time. Or not, hopefully there will be some overtime during my vacation, I need the money.

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Gambling

Like to gamble and can't get out to the casinos? Would you like to try online casinos but tired of getting spammed by the endless supply of 'bad' sites? Try the Casino Directory!

The site has reviews of many certified online casinos with a special page dedicated to what they consider the best online casinos. There are also lists of casinos that offer you special bonus money and a list of free online casino games that can be played in practice mode (ie. no money involved) to help you get ready for the experience.

Of course, there's nothing like hitting the tables in person, but if you can't get there or prefer to do your gambling from the comfort of home, the Casino Directory may just be what you are looking for. Try it out and let me know how it works for you.

Tuesday, December 25, 2007

Christmas Moon

Merry Christmas graphic and a meme

1 Now it came to pass in those days, there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be enrolled. 2 This was the first enrolment made when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to enrol themselves, every one to his own city. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David; 5 to enrol himself with Mary, who was betrothed to him, being great with child. 6 And it came to pass, while they were there, the days were fulfilled that she should be delivered. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn son; and she wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

8 And there were shepherds in the same country abiding in the field, and keeping watch by night over their flock. 9 And an angel of the Lord stood by them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. 10 And the angel said unto them, Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all the people: 11 for there is born to you this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this is the sign unto you: Ye shall find a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, and lying in a manger. 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

14 Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men in whom he is well pleased.
Luke 2 American Standard Version

Linked from AmeriPundit because I like the graphic. Merry Christmas!

Meme: Buffalo tagged me with the Christmas meme...
1. Link to the person that tagged you, and post the rules on your blog
2. Share Christmas facts about yourself
3. Tag seven random people at the end of your post, and include links to their blogs.
4. Let each person know that they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

Welcome to the Christmas edition of "Getting to Know Your Friends."

1. Wrapping or gift bags? Prefer wrapped

2. Real or artificial tree? No tree this year, have an artificial though.

3. When do you put up the tree? Usually first weekend in December.

4. When do you take the tree down? New Year's Day

5. Do you like eggnog? Not in the least

6. Favorite gift received as a child? my first computer :)

7. Do you have a nativity scene? Nope

8. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? all gifts are good

9. Mail or email Christmas cards? email

10. Favorite Christmas Movie? “The Christmas Story”

11. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Last possible minute

12. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? cookies

13. Clear lights or colored on the tree? white

14. Favorite Christmas song(s)? Silent Night

15. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Stay home.

16. Can you name all of Santa’s reindeer? yes

17. Angel on the tree top or a star? star

18. Open the presents Christmas Eve or Christmas Morning? usually no presents left by then

19. Most annoying thing about this time of year? bills

20. Do you decorate your tree in any specific theme or color? No.

21. What do you leave for Santa? milk and cookies

22. Least favorite holiday song? really none

23. Favorite ornament? none

24. Family tradition? money as a gift hidden in candy

25. Ever been to Midnight Mass or late-night Christmas Eve services? No, and I need to

I will be passing this "tag" on to the following blog friends:

No one, I don't pass them on :)

Monday, December 24, 2007

A HOLIDAY WISH FOR YOU ALL !!



I received this via email from my brother ( I assume this is making the rounds around the 'Net but I thought I'd share it with you all anyway as it is most "appropo".


To My Democrat Friends:

Please accept with no obligation, implied or implicit, my best
wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible,
low-stress, non-addictive, gender-neutral celebration of the winter
solstice holiday, practiced within the most enjoyable traditions of the
religious persuasion of your choice, or secular practices of your
choice, with respect for the religious/secular persuasion and/or
traditions of others, or their choice not to practice religious or
secular traditions at all. I also wish you a fiscally successful,
personally fulfilling and medically uncomplicated recognition of the
onset of the generally accepted calendar year 2008, but not without due
respect for the calendars of choice of other cultures whose
contributions to society have helped make America great. Not to imply
that America is necessarily greater than any other country nor the only
America in the Western Hemisphere . Also, this wish is made without
regard to the race, creed, color, age, physical ability, religious faith
or sexual preference of the wishee.


To My Republican Friends:

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

WELCOME BACK ... ME !!!

Hey I can post now !!

This is a TEST !!!

{welcome back Thai - VM}

Merry Christmas from tDR

Merry Christmas everyone.

Couldn't find a good pic of the star of the East that I wanted, but this star picture will do. I just want to thank everyone for visiting, commenting and whatever. I especially want to thank my fellow bloggers for making this blog worthwhile for me to continue.

I hope everyone's wishes come true this season and a great New Year for you and yours in 2008.

Merry Christams from Theo

From Theo in the mail:
Thought I would share that with the folks that aren't on his mailing list (and just why aren't you?).

Sunday, December 23, 2007

Illegal and Idiotic

Arizona city determines a way to check for illegals without profiling.
My Way News

Hillary promises lower oil prices if she's elected.
NY Daily News

Working on a Christmas post (probably just a big picture heh) but probably be sparse until after. I was out of town this weekend doing Christmas since I work all week on midnights so no chance to post. Merry Christmas everyone.

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Friday, December 21, 2007

Ron Paul

Ron Paul madness from LGF:

An LGF reader emailed this photograph, showing Ron Paul at the Values Voters Presidential Debate in Fort Lauderdale on September 17, 2007. Immediately to Paul’s left: Don Black, the owner of neo-Nazi hate site Stormfront. If anyone knows who the creepy guy in the hat is, please post a comment.

Update: it’s Derek Black, Don’s son.


Head over to LGF to see more (and the nuttiness that comes with him putting that up)

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Divine Intervention and the Date Police

Preacher Command in Tehran blitzes a ton of internet cafe's, computer clubs and tech saavy kids in their desperate doomed attempt to control socialising in a nation fixing to bust with young people.Colonel Nader Sarkari of the Mullahs Online Posse explains during a well earned break from targetting almost 500 online hot hook up spots why the regime is freaking out at unbridled internet access. Lawless hoods and out of control ho's are frequenting these shady establishments for a myriad of wicked purposes:
"Using immoral computer games, storing obscene photos ... and the presence of women wearing improper hijab were among the reasons why they have been closed down."
Goodluck. In a increasingly prohibitive society, fun of any kind is outlawed, contact with hotties (h'jibed or not) and hot guys severly limited, and no free media.

This Achilles heel is exploited by kids in Iran right now. Filter busters appear scrawled on the back of bus seats in Tehran's Mass Transit System - risable' rich as the current hand picked Pres of Iran has a PHD in traffic management and as mayor tried to segregate bus lines.

One of the Regimes top 20%ers, cleric Ahmad Khatami's announcement lends heavy despotic weight and talks plainly to kids - in a language they can easily understand. The regime desperately wants to dial in ancient days on the way back machine. Explaining that all mullahs in the Islamic Republic desire the very same
"Our people want their women to be able to go in the streets with respect and want their dignity to be protected, Our people want the society to be morally clean."
Only prob - "Our people" means the Mullahs. In their 'clean society' concepts are not easily upgraded to the New Millenial standards of free choice. The Mullah's clean society is a medievel society that sometimes considers concepts like shame and honor so dear (note these dear concepts often seem to be between the legs of their daughters, sisters, nieces and girl cousins).

In an illegitimate theocratic regime like Iran's, their particular brand of Sha Ria, alas, is as unpopular as any law, tradition or time honored practice tends to crush the human spirit. And when spirit crushing is in demand - break out the secret police.

Newly appointed Police Chief Brigadier-General Ahmad Reza Radan is no stranger to crisis or extremeis. As a young Revo Guard commander in the Iran Iraq war he's dealt with the human spirit and young people too.

Using 1000's of "Besiji's" - essentially teenage boys - many volunteered by their families to fight at the front as a Martyr's Battalion - Radan saw 1st hand the very creative use of human wave attacks when the Armies of the Ayatollah drove the Iraqis out of Iran and began payback counteroffensives that beseiged Basra for nearly six years. Despite the utmost in faith, tons of plastic keys to the gates of paradise and some of the very first duct tape Red China built - multi groups of boys bound together tended to have the same horrific failed effect when pitted against entrenched machine guns, mustard gas and fixed machine gun kill zones.

Even faithful Guard Commanders and their NCO's might suffer a slip of faith now an then. The waste of lives for gains measured in yards weighed heavily on a younger comrade who openly asked why Allah would allow such carnage among faithful children armed only with a plastic key and unlimited faith in Ayatollah Khomeini. Radan's answer was quite esoteric:
"How do you know Allah doesn't require these measures?"
Recently at one of the regimes fake "Police Fairs" Radan was available for questions by concerned citizens about Police crackdowns on music, dress codes and essentially unIslamic activity. One of the reporters of ISNA (Iranian Students News Agency) was brave enough (hasn't been heard from since Oct.) to quiz the General about a conversation cops and a girl which he had recorded a few days ago. Here are some parts of the conversation. (The girl is arrested in her car with her date.)
Police officer: Allah has sent me to arrest you and prevent a crime.
Girl: What are you talking about? What crime?
Police officer: You have sat together at this unusual time, inside a dark car, in a deserted area of the city.
Girl: Is it our CRIME? Allah has sent you for this?
Police officer: yeah, Allah knows if I wasn't here on time what a scandal could happen to your family.
Girl: It is not deserted here. There are many people there in the park and so may cars pass by here.
Police officer: I don’t know. I just know Allah has sent me…
ISNA then asked Radan about the admittedly unIslamic concepts of civil rights and if cops should treat people like this.

Radan's answering question was quite esoteric
"How do you know that officer was not sent by Allah?"
{Cross-posted at GreatSatansGirlFriend where GSGF is the author}

Thursday, December 20, 2007

Climate Porn

It's amazing that a story like this doesn't seem to be getting much press. Of course it's on drudge so the MSM may catch up later.

If your heart is set in stone about a warm New Year, you may be disappointed to find that more and more scientists think that climate change is simply that and not a man-made phenomenon to redistribute the wealth of the world into Al Gore's basement.
Over 400 prominent scientists from more than two dozen countries recently voiced significant objections to major aspects of the so-called "consensus" on man-made global warming. These scientists, many of whom are current and former participants in the UN IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change), criticized the climate claims made by the UN IPCC and former Vice President Al Gore.

The new report issued by the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee’s office of the GOP Ranking Member details the views of the scientists, the overwhelming majority of whom spoke out in 2007.

Even some in the establishment media now appear to be taking notice of the growing number of skeptical scientists. In October, the Washington Post Staff Writer Juliet Eilperin conceded the obvious, writing that climate skeptics "appear to be expanding rather than shrinking." Many scientists from around the world have dubbed 2007 as the year man-made global warming fears “bites the dust.” (LINK)
US Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works
All the doomsday wishers in the world won't change what is actually happening and finally the public will get to see that the 'consensus' was nothing more than an attempt by certain people to capitalize on the fears of the common man, much like the Ice Age fears of the 70's.
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Wednesday, December 19, 2007

Ron Paul

(head over to Conservatism with Heart for this also)
A couple of good posts about Ron Paul on the 'net today. First by Don Surber on Paul's poll ratings:
Good news

Gallup shows Ron Paul tied with Alan Keyes.

Republicans can relax. The latest Gallup Poll shows the viral video candidate Dr. Paul is tied with the goofball Keyes at 3% each. It is Dean ‘04 all over again with another Internet-driven campaign that is going nowhere fast.
Don Surber
Next is the case against Paul by Professor Bainbridge:
Click for the rest of the story
I’ve been cataloging my quest to settle on a GOP Presidential candidate to support in 2008 (so far I’ve stick with Fred Thompson mainly by default). I took on McCain, Romney, Huckabee, and Tancredo in this post. I went back to make the case against Huckabee in more detail in this post. With Andrew Sullivan having endorsed Ron Paul, it’s the latter’s turn. (UPDATE: Now Sullivan’s even implying support for a third party bid by Paul.) Unlike Andrew, I’m afraid I can’t work up any enthusiasm for Paul.
Professor Bainbridge
Make sure to read the rest of his post (and especially the comments).

Ron may run on a 3rd party ticket and that is just where he deserves to run.


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Jokes

Jose and Carlos are panhandlers......

They panhandle in different areas of town. Carlos panhandles just as long as Jose but only collects 2 to 3 dollars every day. Jose brings home a suitcase FULL of $10 bills, drives a Mercedes, lives in a mortgage free house and has a lot of money to spend.

Carlos says to Jose "I work just as long and hard as you do but how do you bring home a suitcase full of $10 bills every day?" Jose says, .... "Look at your sign, what does it say"? Carlos sign reads 'I have no work, a wife and 6 kids to support.'

Jose says "No wonder you only get $2-3 dollars." Carlos says... "So what does your sign say?"

Jose shows Carlos his sign......

It reads, "I only need another $10.00 to move back to Mexico."


Having a bad day?

To my darling husband,

Before you return from your trip I just want to let you know about the small accident I had with the pick up truck when I turned into the driveway. Fortunately, not too bad and I really didn't get hurt, so please don't worry too much about me.

I was coming home from Wal-Mart, and when I turned into the driveway, I accidentally pushed down on the accelerator instead of the brake. The garage door is slightly bent but the pick up fortunately came to a halt when it bumped into your car.

I am really sorry, but I know with your kind-hearted personality you will forgive me. You know how much I love you and care for you my sweetheart. I am enclosing a picture for you.

I cannot wait to hold you in my arms again.


Your loving wife.

X XX

p.s. Your girlfriend called

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Monday, December 17, 2007

Joe Mole

This morning before going to school, lil bit read Joe Mole to me. It was her homework (she had read it two times, but Falen said one more time).

The premise behind the book seemed to be the long O sound (and telling you that slow and steady still wins the race) and she had little problem with most words. She would sound them out and then read the word (usually sounding them out as a short o, then correcting herself) until she ran into the words goal and moan. While still the same sounds, they don't sound out the same to a six year old :) Other than those two words, she got the rest of the book by herself.

Along with the moment I got married and lil bit's birth, this was probably the proudest I've been (she has read a book before, but not this much by herself). Unlike those other times, however, this one was somewhat bittersweet. It was great because she could do it herself and I was proud of her for it, but reading is the first step to independence (yes I know she's six). When you can read for yourself, you don't rely on others as much as you once did. Now she'll be able to play games that she couldn't do before because she had to have someone read things to her (that she didn't understand). Hopefully she'll be a big reader like I was; but whatever, this changes things for her.

This will open up a world that she never knew existed. Along with her vivid imagination, she'll get to visit worlds other people have dreamed up and not just her own. As much as she loves movies, I think that soon, she'll appreciate books even more.

Not much reason for this post, just dropped her off at school and thought I should share this with everyone :)

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Sunday, December 16, 2007

Division II Championship

Didn't get to goto the game today as I had to sleep (working midnights) and then goto lil bit's birthday party :)

FLORENCE, Ala. -- Michael Terry scored a touchdown with 22 seconds left as Valdosta State beat Northwest Missouri State, 25-20, Saturday for the Division II championship, the Bearcats' third consecutive title-game loss.

Terry's 1-yard TD run capped an eight-play, 37-yard drive sparked by Willie Copeland's four straight completions for 27 yards. Valdosta (13-1) overcame a 14-3 halftime deficit as

Northwest Missouri finished the season 12-2.

"I don't know if words can describe the disappointment that I feel for these guys," Bearcats coach Mel Tjeerdsma said. "They've done a great job and we've had a great run. They got beat by a very good football team."

Valdosta State's William Montford intercepted a desperation pass by Joel Osborn with 16 seconds left to preserve the win, and Blazers fans swarmed the field, soggy after a cold rainstorm blew through.
ESPN

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Saturday, December 15, 2007

LSU Shooting

A shooting at LSU (off campus) left two people dead. Both victims were shot in the head and one was tied up with computer cable according to Yahoo news. The two students lived in an apartment housing for married and graduate students (they were doctorial candidates from India, so might have been an ethnic killing).

Police did not lock down the school, but the shooter(s) remain at large.

BATON ROUGE, La. - Police searched for suspects Friday in the shooting deaths of two Louisiana State University students, and unlike other schools in the wake of the Virginia Tech massacre, the school decided against locking down the campus.

Police patrols were increased on the 28,000-student campus, and students were urged to be cautious as they wrapped up final exams and headed home for the holiday break. But LSU Chancellor Sean O'Keefe said police chose not to blockade the campus or reschedule the tests after determining the two doctoral candidates from India were slain in an isolated home invasion.

The victims were found late Thursday after being shot in the head inside an apartment complex for married and graduate students. One was tied up with a computer cable. The killings were the first on campus in more than a decade.

The suspects remain at large.

Yahoo News

I hope they catch the killer(s) that did this and bring them to justice. I'm not sure about the policy LSU has about students and guns (and not sure if a gun would have helped the victims) but I am sure that I would want to be able to attempt to protect myself in that situation.

My prayers and thoughts go out to the family and friends of the victims.



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Friday, December 14, 2007

Thursday, December 13, 2007

Fred! Apologizes to Huck

Link from Insty about the Fred campaign and the 'apology' they offered to Huck for pointing out his record on things.
Fred Thompson Campaign Apologies
Posted on December 13th, 2007
By Sean Hackbarth in Taxes, Cuba, Immigration

From Karen Hanretty, Deputy Communications Director:

In light of Mike Huckabee’s heartfelt apology to Mitt Romney for making reference to Romney’s religion in the New York Times Magazine, we at the Thompson Campaign would like to offer Huckabee our own heartfelt apologies for some references we’ve made about his record as Governor of Arkansas.

We apologize for pointing out that as Governor of Arkansas, Huckabee offered in-state tuition to illegal immigrants. That’s something he’d probably just as soon no one talk about.

A recent Washington Post-ABC News Iowa poll of Iowans likely to vote in the Republican caucus stated illegal immigration as their top issue of concern, tied with the war in Iraq.

We apologize for pointing out that in 2002 Huckabee wrote Pres. Bush a letter asking him to lift the Cuban embargo. It’s easy to see how Huckabee might have missed the finer points of a 40-year embargo. While he obviously knew enough about the embargo to ask that it be lifted, Huckabee clearly didn’t know enough to ask that it not be lifted. So for that, we’re sorry.

In 2002, Governor Huckabee strongly advocated lifting the embargo against Cuba saying it “harm[s] our own agricultural and business interests,” “has not helped the people of Cuba” and has “provided Castro with a convenient excuse for his own failed system of government.” (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, 3/29/02)
Fred File
Read the rest, it was a great apology :)

Britain Surrenders

I'm sure all of my Brit friends have had a bad day if they've kept abreast at the news. No one I've talked to actually believed that Britain would actually sign the EU Treaty, but they have done it. The EU is becoming a country, slowly but surely; this is the latest step in depriving the citizens of the countries of Europe of their ability to govern their lands.
FOREIGN Secretary David Miliband signed the hated EU treaty - hours before Prime Minister Gordon Brown arrived in Lisbon.

Due to the PM's delayed arrival, Mr Miliband was the only foreign minister to attend the televised ceremony alone, amid a stream of prime ministers and presidents from the other 26 EU states.

Mr Brown also later signed the document in a low key ceremony.

The news will be a blow to the country's voters - The Sun's EU petition has received 28,000 votes saying no to the Treaty.

Today’s ceremony took place in the beautiful surroundings of Lisbon's 500-year-old Jeronimos Monastery.
[snip]
The warning was issued to the PM last night as he prepared to wave the white flag over our right to make our own laws.

It emerged tens of thousands of foreigners facing the boot from the UK will be winners.

They will get new rights to overturn decisions by Britain’s Immigration and Asylum Tribunal.

It means failed asylum seekers will be free to take their cases to the European Court of Justice in Strasbourg — giving the final say to unelected EU judges.
The Sun
As I said, first step. Now that the countries of Europe have NO border control, there basically are no borders.

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Huck you very much

Huckabeefacts.com is about the Dumond release by Huckabee and one woman's crusade to get him off the ticket. Video below the fold.
Click for video

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Photos

Some photos I found on the computer backup-drive. Will take abit to load for you people on dial-up sorry.

I've been kind of out of it today (just tired) so not much posting or visiting.






Tuesday, December 11, 2007

Shooting in LV

The American Pundit has this on the Las Vegas shootings:
Six students, either junior high or high schoolers, were shot today while exiting a school bus in Las Vegas.
The American Pundit
Head over there for the quotes. Video from Clip Syndicate under the fold (click below to see).
Click for the rest of the story

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Web Hosting

Looking for web hosting (ad-free)? Not happy with your current web host or just looking for a little web hosting choice?

Goto Web Hosting Choice and let them look for you. You put in what you want to pay (monthly, set-up fee) and how much hosting you need and they'll try to find it for you. I may have to look into it myself with my godaddy runs out (seems I can get a better deal out there hehe)

No matter what host you need, it seems they can find it. They have a directory for any kind of host you can need (unix, windows, php, mySQL, etc.) and easy to use search engine. The site is basically made and easy to navigate. Give it a try and let me know if they got you what you wanted.


NewsBusted

Newsbusters regularly puts out a youtube video where they basically make fun of the news.


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Happy Birthday


Lil bit is another year older on this day. I hope this day and all the rest are what she wants them to be and I thank G-d everyday for her being in my life.

Monday, December 10, 2007

Picture

Still don't have the halloween pictures, but did get this Christmas one.


Vick Sentencing

Michael Vick was sentenced today to 23 months for his role in the dog fighting business he funded.

His lawyers were asking for 6-12 months and looked to get it until recently when Vick failed a drug test while awaiting sentencing (a big no-no).
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - Michael Vick was sentenced to 23 months in prison Monday for his role in a dogfighting conspiracy that involved gambling and killing pit bulls.

The suspended Atlanta Falcons quarterback could have been sentenced up to five years by District Judge Henry E. Hudson. Vick was dressed in a black-and-white striped prison suit and apologized to the court and his family.

Vick pleaded guilty in August, admitting he bankrolled the "Bad Newz Kennels" dogfighting operation and helped kill six to eight dogs.

In a plea agreement, he admitted bankrolling the dogfighting ring on his 15-acre property in rural southeastern Virginia and helping kill pit bulls that did not perform well in test fights. He also admitted providing money for bets on the fights but said he never shared in any winnings.
Breitbart
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Huckabee's Killers

We've heard of the 'conservative' Huckabees' stand on immigration, his record on taxes and his help to get Drumond released. We also know that he released (parole or clemency) more prisoners than the six surrounding governors did during the same time-frame (about 1 every 4 days). Now we have a story of one murderer that Huckabee made eligible for parole (over the objections of everyone except the defense attorney it seems) because a fellow minister felt the murder was an accident. Below the fold is the story (via Drudge)
Gov. Huckabee probably never read the confession of a demented killer named Glen Green before he made the monster eligible for parole.
___ Green's confession is so depraved, its sadistic details so scary that no sane, responsible adult would consider him for parole.
___ If the governor didn't read the confession, he is guilty of dereliction of duty.
___ But if he read the confession and still considers Green deserving of parole, he's certainly unfit to hold office. Who would free a madman who beat an 18-year-old woman with Chinese martial-arts sticks, raped her as she barely clung to life, ran over her with his car, then dumped her in the bayou, her hand reaching up, as if begging for mercy?
___ We're publishing the gruesome picture of Green's victim on the front page because we believe her hand is reaching up to demand justice.
___ In usual fashion, Huckabee's office didn't even contact the victim's family about the clemency.
___ Although he's required to by the Constitution, the governor, as is his custom, won't say why he granted clemency to this crazed killer (over the unanimous objections of the Post-Prison Transfer Board).
___ Huckabee apparently listened to Green's minister (and a friend of the governor), who thinks the murder was an accident and Green was forced to confess.
The Leader
Read the entire thing, it is mind boggling how someone would think a person that did this is capable of being allowed to walk in society again. {granted I don't know all the facts and something could be radically different than what I believe or do know, but I would have to be proven wrong on that}

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Sunday, December 9, 2007

Church Shooting

Been at work so I don't know much about this.




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Fred!

Hawkins interviews Fred's campaign manager (Bill Lacy):

Let's say a fan of Fred comes up to you and says, "If Fred wins the nomination, tell me how he could beat Hillary?" Give us an idea of what you would tell him about how Fred could beat Hillary Clinton.

The first thing I will tell you, John, is that I have been quoted 2 or 3 times during the campaign as saying, since I arrived on the scene in August and since there was so much work to be done to win the nomination, I have been repeatedly quoted as saying that I spent about 3 seconds trying to figure out how to win the general election. Let me say that as a very honest caveat.

But, what I think Fred Thompson has going for him in the general election, and this is true whether it's Senator Clinton, Senator Obama, or Senator Edwards that he's running against is,

#1) He's a good, solid conservative.

#2) His image is...thoughtful and non-threatening. What I think makes Fred an absolutely superior general election candidate is that his rhetoric is not going to scare people. His policies are going to be thoughtful. It will be a little bit Reaganesque because people will disagree with his policies, but they will respect him as an individual. That offers our party a wonderful opportunity to bust out of this total "us vs. them" mentality and to reach out to the other side of the aisle, to some of the more conservative Democrats, to get them supporting the Republican nominee for President.

I think Fred has improved as a candidate dramatically in the last four months. He has done well in the debates he has been in and has steadily improved. He is a very, very capable candidate and I think he is someone that the Republican Party can very easily rally around. He is really acceptable to everyone. He is not acceptable to very few in the party. I think he can ignite the faithful of the party, he can reach out to others, and...his policies are the most conservative, in a reasonable way, of any of the Republican candidates. (Also), I think he would be viewed as less threatening and more genuine. That is (something) that would work very well for him in the general election.

RightWingNews

Read the whole interview. There are some good questions by John and good answers by Bill; with Huck about to take a fall, there will be a 'conservative' hole to fill and Fred should be able to jump right into it.

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Voice of an Angel

Saturday, December 8, 2007

Sex

Sex is everywhere. Of course it has been for awhile now, but these days it's more 'out there' than ever before.

It's on TV, movies, ads, radio, toys (yes toys), books, the internet (heh); basically anywhere you look from governments to places of worship you will see sex.

What you don't want to see is a 100+ person sex party at the house next door if you live in Duncanville, TX:
DUNCANVILLE, Texas (AP) - The most popular address on Cedar Ridge Drive is Jim Trulock's split- level home, which has a group sex room and attracts as many as 100 people to swinger parties featuring "Naked Twister" nights.

But the festivities could soon be over. In response to neighbors' complaints, the city has outlawed sex clubs in residential areas. Citations have been issued, and search warrants may be next.

"It's crazy that they want to force their morality down our throats," said Dawn Burton, 45, a regular guest at the parties. "We're all frustrated."

So are those who complain of the noise, traffic and parking problems that occur in their otherwise quiet, upscale neighborhood every Friday and Saturday, when Trulock's home is transformed into "The Cherry Pit."

Duncanville, which proclaims itself "The Perfect Blend of Family, Community and Business," is an unlikely venue for a neighborhood swinger club. The city of 36,000 just southwest of Dallas has about 50 places of worship and not a single registered sexually oriented business.

Duncanville officials insist they are not just another prudish Texas town giving the boot to spouse-swappers. They say it all boils down to a matter of law: Trulock is operating a business featuring live sex acts.

Breitbart

Seems to be an issue between privacy and business laws. Everyone should expect privacy in their home for whatever 'deviant' act they are performing. I'm not trying to knock Trulock for his choice of parties and friends, but it seems that maybe they are just a tad bit excessive for his community. With 'admission' charged (donations for food/drinks) and the number of people, it will be difficult for him to win on privacy concerns. I don't know for sure if the town would have handled this differently had it simply been a few friends and not the hassle of parking, noise and whatever, but they don't have to show they would have been on his side in that case.

His lawyer of course will fight for him and there will be court battles, but I can't see this law getting overturned based on what I've read here. There could be other issues not brought up in the article, but I can't imagine what those would have to be to make a difference.

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Friday, December 7, 2007

30,000

Last night I hit 30k visitors. Fitting that they were looking for pictures of Grace Park heh

Jokes

From emails:
The Ghost Story:
This happened about a month ago just outside a little town in the low country of South Carolina, and while it sounds like an Alfred Hitchcock tale, it's real.

This guy was on the side of the road hitchhiking on a real dark night in the middle of a thunder storm. Time passed slowly and no cars went by. It was raining so hard he could hardly see his hand in front of his face. Suddenly he saw a car moving slowly approaching and appearing ghostlike in the rain. It slowly crept toward him and stopped. Wanting a ride real bad the guy jumped in the car and closed the door, only then did he realize that there was nobody behind the wheel. The car slowly
started moving and the guy was terrified, too scared to think of jumping out and running. The guy saw that the car was slowly approaching a sharp curve, still too scared to jump out, he sta rted t o pray and beg for his life, he was sure the ghost car would go off the road and in the marsh and he would surely drown, when just before the curve, a hand appeared through the driver's window and turned the steering wheel, guiding the car safely around the bend.

Paralyzed with fear, the guy watched the hand reappear every time they reached a curve. Finally the guy, scared to near death, had all he could take and jumped out of the car and ran to town. Wet and in shock, he went into a bar and voice quavering, ordered two shots of whiskey, then told everybody about his supernatural experience.

A silence enveloped and everybody got goose bumps when they realized the guy was telling the truth and not just some drunk. About half an hour later two Rednecks walked into the bar and one says to the other: "Look Bubba, there's that idiot who rode in our car when we were pushing it.


Big Game Hunter:

Back at work today through Monday, so have a great weekend (I'll try to get around to everyone and do some posting anyway).

Thursday, December 6, 2007

What Was Your Impression of Romney's Speech?





(Mitt Romney's speech on religion can be heard by clicking on his website: "Faith In America")

I was impressed. I just couldn't help but compare Romney to George Washington, who always tried to lift people's focus above meaningless differences and join people in what is truly meaningful and important. Chris Matthews said he had heard "greatness." I agree. But it would be fun to hear your comments.

Omaha



Some roundup of the Omaha shooter.

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Wednesday, December 5, 2007

War on Terror



War on Terror headlines from ClipSyndicate

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Bowling

Had a 618 tonight bowling (214, 221, 183) and we won them all. Switched balls (smaller curve/hook) and had much better control. I'm going to get my big hook ball polished and see what I can do with it with a (much) smaller curve [the big hook ball has much better pin action].

Burnt out on politics/news tonight :)

Monday, December 3, 2007

No Charges



[comment update]
I'm very sorry for the family of this girl and appalled at what the 40+ year old lady did to get back at her for something foolish. That said, I'm not sure that she broke any laws. Wrong does not always equal illegal, and I'm sure that the laws will be looked at.

It is never good to change laws to fit the past, but that will probably happen here. The woman shares some of the blame for what happened, but ultimately it was the decision of one young lady who was not thinking clearly. That won't ever help the family with dealing with this and I will keep them in my prayers, but hopefully they will (someday) be able to get on with their lives and not spend all their passion pursuing this.
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BlogPower

I am withdrawing TDR from BP.

James and I talked of this quite a while back, nothing changed since the talk so I'm out.

The people in BP are great, but as a group, they don't do what I feel they should (notice I said I feel, so that's not necessarily a knock on them) and to me it is simply another blogroll. They have perceptions that they are more, but they (to me) don't follow through.

Traffic is atrocious considering I may get 1 visit per DAY from a BP member. I realize that all BP members seem to have decided to put everyone on a reader and do it that way, but that wasn't the intent that I was told at the beginning.

Commenting: well you can tell, I don't get a lot of comments from anyone, much less BP :) (I don't comment much either, so I'm no better).

Philosophy/politics: The BP group claims and tries to be non-political and does a somewhat good job of it. Yet everytime there is someone up for entry, the thought process is that we need more of {insert whatever here} to 'round it out'. The claim is that there are too many 'right' blogs and not enough 'left', also too many men, not enough women, etc. Yet this group wants to be non-political and yet follow the liberal policy of diversity. It is impossible to actually vote no on a new member without hearing about it (unless of course the new member is 'racist' or somesuch) and only 15 or so out of 70 actually participate..

Note: this is a knock on BP itself, not the individual bloggers in it; most of them I enjoy reading and visit as often as possible; some I don't visit at all, but that is for personal reasons.

I hope they have a wonderful time with BP and I hope it one day becomes what they want it to, if they actually figure that part out :)


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Ding Dong the Witch is Dead?

CARACAS, Venezuela - Humbled by his first electoral defeat ever, President Hugo Chavez said Monday he may have been too ambitious in asking voters to let him stand indefinitely for re-election and endorse a huge leap to a socialist state.

"I understand and accept that the proposal I made was quite profound and intense," he said after voters narrowly rejected the sweeping constitutional reforms by 51 percent to 49 percent.

Opposition activists were ecstatic as the results were announced shortly after midnight — with 88 percent of the vote counted, the trend was declared irreversible by elections council chief Tibisay Lucena.

Some shed tears. Others began chanting: "And now he's going away!"

Without the overhaul, Chavez will be barred from running again in 2012.

Foes of the reform effort — including Roman Catholic leaders, media freedom groups, human rights groups and prominent business leaders — said it would have granted Chavez unchecked power and imperiled basic rights. [link]

I'm not sure how Chavez let this happen, but it is good news for the people of Venezuela. Of course, I expect him to again try to consolidate his power before 2012 when he is supposed to step down (see Putin). Until Chavez is officially gone and someone else steps in, I'll be cautious on this one.

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Sunday, December 2, 2007

BP Roundup

The 4th installment of the BP roundup is up [link] and it's a good one. I'm not in this one but there's everything from politics to personal life, check it out. {dial-up for 2 weeks kept me from being as active, so I didn't get a nomination in}

A little music for your wait.


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Saturday, December 1, 2007

SEC Championship

Decent game, not a lot of production from UT's offense.

Ainge gave the game away and then gave away the comeback... [ESPN]

update: forgot the score (doh) 21-14 LSU ;(


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Donations

The donate button is back. It's that time again :)

Anything anyone can give is appreciated; I'm not sure what my website costs will be this year (I was on a 'special') but I do know I need 50 bucks for new software. So probably need a couple hundred (dreaming).

Anything you give will be appreciated and if you can't, don't worry, I can't either.

See button in sidebar below favorite posts ---->

[xxxxx--------------------] $250 goal
^$50

Update: This post is stickied until December or I get some donations ;)

Warzone

 Recently played a few games on Caldera (warzone) and then... Lots of luck in this one, but satisfying